Freckles: What They Are and Why Do They Appear?

If you’re prone to freckles, every summer, a few dark spots may gather around your nose and cheeks. These freckles on the face are largely harmless, and many have learned to embrace this pigmentation, too. However, if you’re trying to understand what are freckles on skin and have been looking into freckle removal, dive right in.

Keynotes:

• Freckles are flat, brown, harmless spots caused by sun exposure and genetics, commonly seen in lighter skin tones.
• Freckles or Ephelides differ from sunspots, which are larger and more permanent.
• While freckles fade over time, sunscreen and lightening treatments can help reduce their appearance.

Freckles, or ephelides, are tiny, flat spots on your skin that are usually tan or light brown with a diameter of less than 3 mm. They appear on your skin when it’s exposed to the sun, but fade away in winter or when you step back into the shade. Freckles are very common among young children, and people with lighter skin tones and blonde or red hair are more likely to develop them, due to the presence of the MC1R gene.

Freckles on the face appear due to sun exposure and your skin’s melanocytes. Melanocytes are pigment-forming cells that create melanin, the pigment that gives your skin, hair, and eyes their color. Once your skin is exposed to sun rays, melanocytes tend to produce more melanin to protect you. However, in some skin types, the excessive melanin doesn't spread out evenly and clumps into little patches. These patches appear as freckles on the face, arms, shoulders, and other sun-exposed areas of your skin.

Freckles are largely an inherited characteristic, so at times, they can affect people with darker skin tones too.

Freckles on the skin are often confused with sun spots (age spots). Freckles (ephelides) and age spots (solar lentigines) often look the same, flat, round, and tanned. However, the causes and the treatments involved largely differ.

• Ephelides

  These refer to the common, temporary freckles you develop when you step into the sun. They are very common in light skin tones, and you’ll usually develop them if your parents have them. If you have red or blonde hair naturally, you may be more prone to these. Freckles tend to appear and get darker in the summer when you're out in the sun more, and fade away in winter when there's less sun. Typically, they don’t need any targeted skin treatments since they are temporary.

• Solar Lentigines

  These are sunspots that are also caused by the sun, but they're usually bigger and don't fade away as much. They are also known as age spots since they appear more prominently as your skin begins to age. Sun spots turn darker with repeated sun exposure and can appear in groups, making them more noticeable. They are common in fair as well as dark skinned people and are more commonly found after the age of 40. Unlike freckles, age spots need proper prevention and treatment.

Generally, freckles on the face are not considered to be harmful. They are simply a sign that your skin has been in the sun. However, freckling often suggests that your skin has been under prolonged sun exposure, and you may need proper UV protection with sunscreens. If the spots or freckles that appear begin to change size, shape, or are suddenly darker, it’s best to consult a dermatologist.

Since freckles can be temporary and harmless, most people choose to embrace them. However, if you freckle too often and they overpower your look, you can try a few treatments to fade their appearance after consulting your dermatologist.

Tip 1: Sunscreens

This freckles treatment is a no-brainer. Using a broad-spectrum sunscreen every day will help prevent new freckles from forming and keep the ones you have from getting darker. However, sunscreens won’t completely fade existing freckles.

Tip 2: Lightening Treatments

Several creams and serums are designed to lighten pigmentation and deliver an even skin tone. Look for serums with clinically tested ingredients like Thiamidol for fading the appearance of freckles.

Tip 3: Clinical Treatments

Dermatological treatments like laser therapy can help you target freckles and make them less visible. It’s vital to talk to your doctor beforehand and ensure that you’re getting treated by reliable professionals.

Freckles on the face are temporary, harmless, and easy to embrace. While they are largely genetic, they are a good reminder of the constant sun exposure we’re under. So follow proper sun protection every day and through all seasons, and turn to Eucerin for proper anti-pigmentation care. ,/p>

1. What causes freckles to appear on the skin?

   Freckles appear on your skin when it is exposed to sunlight. The sun’s rays trigger melanin production, and when it appears clumped, you observe freckles on your skin. They are largely driven by genetic factors.

2. Are freckles permanent or can they fade?

   Freckles are not permanent and fade naturally once you’re away from sun exposure.

3. Is there a treatment to remove freckles?

   Laser therapy, peels, topical products, and sunscreens can be used as freckle treatment.

4. Are freckles a sign of sun damage?

   No. Freckles are largely genetic and don’t directly indicate sun damage. However, they indicate that your skin has been exposed to the sun and requires protection.

• Cleveland Clinic – Freckles
• PubMed (NIH) – MC1R gene variants and pigmentary traits in humans
• Healthline – How to Get Rid of Freckles: Topical Treatments, Natural Remedies, and More
• Mayo Clinic – Age Spots (Symptoms & Causes)
• DermNet – Brown Spots and Freckles